Device for cutting gold-leaf.



L. M. HARWOOD.

DEVlCE FOR CUTTING GOLD LEAF. APPLICATION FILED IAI. 19. ms.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

y WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A'ITORNE Y8 LEON M. HABWOOD, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR CUTTING GOLD-LEAF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed March 19, 1915. Serial No. 15,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnox MARTIN HAR- wooo, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Springfield, county of l-lampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Cutting Gold- Leaf, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for cutting gold leaf.

Heretot'ore, it has been the common practice, in this art, to cut the leaf by hand, usually with a broad knife or with a cane reed which has been carefully sharpened to a very fine edge. The leaf, during the cutting process, is usually placed on the rough side of leather. The leather serves to cause the leaf to adhere thereto after it has been blown out and lies in a flat condition on the leather to permit its being readily out. objection to this hand cutting process is that it is very slow and expensive.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for cutting the leaf with an implement that can be readily moved over the surface of the leaf. This cutting implement, broadly, comprises a cutter, either circular or havin a straight edge, that engages a groove in he cutting table, the cuttin table being fiber. This material has the property of causing the leaf to adhere thereto and is further capable of being divided into cutting openin s.

The invention further com rises means to retain the leaf in a flat condition on the table during the cutting operation.

The invention, further, comprises devices for actuating the cutting table while retaining the cutting implement in a station a ry position.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the cutting table, showing the grooves in the upper surface thereof and with the cutter of the implement located in the groove; Fig, 2 is a side elevational View of Fig. 1, the table being shown in section and the section being taken through the groove with the cutter ocated therein; Fi 3 is a plan view showing the holding or c amping means for the cutter disk. whereby the same may be clamped and elevated prior to its insertion into the groove; Fig. 4 shows the cutter disk after it is elevate and prior to its The preferably made of vulcanize I insertion into the groove; Fig. 5 is a view showing the table in section and with a rack and pinion device for moving the table when the cutter is held in a stationary position; and Figs. 6 and 7 are modified views of the cutter in which a straight edge is employed.

Referring to the drawings in detail: 1 designates the table upon which the leaf, indicated at 2, is placed prior to the cutting operation.

3 and 4 designate grooves in the upper surface of the table.

The cutting implement comprises a pair of plates 5 and 6 having pins 7 and 8 passing transversely therethrough. On these pins are located the Presser rolls 9 and 10 which have a surface to whichthe gold leaf will not adhere. The surface here is leather, which is indicated at 11."

12 indicates a handle or bar with which the implement is moved by the operator.

The cutting disk is indicated at 13, which is formed with a sharp edge. It is also formed with an enlarged opening 14 through which passes the pin 8, as shown in Fig. 4. The purpose of making this opening through the disk larger than the pin is to obtain better cutting results. The knife may be maintained in a raised position by the operator pinchingtogether the blades 5 and 6, as indicated in Fig. 3 at the lefthand end of the figure @515; Upon the operator releasing his hold upon the blades 5 and 6. the cutter disk will drop into the groove 3. Then, by pulling the implement along over the top of the gold leaf in the direction indicated by the arrow 16, the leaf is readily cut or divided! The presser rollers lO serve the purpose of holding the leaf in a fiat condition on the table during the cutting or severing operation so that the leaf is not forced into the groove by the knife. It is understood that the edge of the disk may be formed with a smooth or saw-tooth edge.

In Fig. 5 is shown a construction in which the table 1 is formed with a rack 17 on its lower side with which engages a pinion 18 that is operated by any suitable means. as a crank arm 19. By operating the pinion 18. the table is moved in either direction and at the same time the operator holds the cutting implement in a stationary position.

In Fig. 6 is shown a slight modification in which the cutter instead of being made in the form of a circular disk is made substautiallv rectangular, as indicated at 2.0. This form of cutter is placed between two blocks 21 which serve the same purpose as the rollers,'and in which is placed a pair of pins that extend through an enlar ed opening '13 in the cutting blade .20. 'l he oper tor in using this form of implement simply places the blocks 21 on the table and raises the blade to an elevated position over a groove. Upon release of the blade, it will fall and sever the leaf.

It is to be understood that I do not limit mvself to the use. of vulcanized fiber-as a cutting table. It is further understood that I do not limit myself to grooves of any particular depth and that they may extend through the table.

The presser rolls 10 which engage the upper surface of the leaf are located adjacentto the cutting knife. By the term adjacent I wish to be understood as meaning near to but not as defining any specific distance from the cutter but near enough to effectively hold or retain the leaf under tension during the cutting process.

It will be observed that the rollers, during the cutting process, serve as a means to hold the leaf in position on the table, and at the cutting line, maintains the leaf thereon in a stretched position for the knife action.

What I claim isl. A device for cutting metallic leaf having a leaf supporting member, a cooperating cutter, a support therefor, leaf retaining means adjacent to the cutter at its opposite faces, and acting to tension the leaf and hold it to the supporting member, in advance of, and during the cutting operation.

A device for cutting metallic leaf, having a grooved leaf supporting member, a cooperating cutter operating in the groove in the member, a. support for the cutter, retaining means, adjacent to the cutter at its opposite faces, and acting to tension the leaf and hold it to the supporting member in advance of, and during the cutting operation.

3. A device for cutting metallic leaf, a grooved leaf supporting member therefor, a

knife operating in the groove in the supporting member, retaining means adjacent to the opposite faces of the knife and traveling therewith, acting to tension the leaf, and hold it to the supporting member, in advance of, and during 4. A device for cuttin metallic leaf, a leaf supporting member t erefor, a support for'a cooperating, loosely mounted cutter, retaining means adjacent to the cutter at its opposite faces and acting to tension the leaf and hold it to the supporting member in advance of and during the cutting operation.

5. A device for cutting metallic leaf, having a grooved leaf supporting member, a support, a cooperating cutter loosely mounted in the support and operating in the groove in the leaf supporting member, retaining means adjacent to the cutter at its opposite faces, and acting to tension the leaf, and hold it to the supporting member, in advance of, and during the cutting operation.

6. A device for cutting metallic leaf, a leaf supporting member therefor, a support for a cutter, leaf retaining means cooperating with the cutter and adapted to hold the leaf to the supporting member against the drawing action of the cutter during the cutting operation. [.f

7. A device foreutting metallic leaf, a grooved leaf supporting member therefor, a

support for a cooperatlng cutter operating in the groove in her, pressure rolls with non-adherent faces arranged adjacent to the cutter, at its opposite faces and traveling with the cutter, acting to tension the leaf2and hold it to the supporting member, in advance of, and during the cutting operation.

. LEON M. HARWOOD.

Witnesses:

HARRY W. Bowen, H. E. HARTWELL.

Copies at this patent may be obtained for in cent: each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. O."

the cutting operation.

the leaf supporting mem-' 

